Improved fruit-jar



J. JOHNSON. 3

Fruit Jan No. 56,226. Patented July 10, 1866.

UNITED T STATES PATENT Prion,

JOSEE JOHNSON, OF NEW YORK, N.

IMPROVED FRUIT-JAR.

Specification forming part of Letters'Patcnt No. 56,226., dated July 10, 1866.

T II whom it may concern:

B it known that I, J o'snn JOHNSON, of the it at (1 county of New York, in the State of N rk, have invented certain new and us f l Iffliprovements in Cans or Jars for Pre- 0 n Servmg .lfiQlltS, 850,; and I do hereby declare that th f llowing 18 a full and exact descriptionthcreof. "a

My inve tion relates to the means of securing and releasing thie VB I will first des ribe what I consider the best means of carrying. outtny invention, and will afterward designate the\ DO H1SS which I believe to be new.

The accompanying drawirfgsjorm a part of this specification. 4

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the upper part of the can with the cover looselyapplied. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 side view with the cover tightly secured. Fi at is a corresponding plan view. Fig. 5 is a side View of a can-cover, showing a modification of the semi-spiral elevations 011 its upper surface, the semi-spirals'being highest at their centers and slanting down both'ways there.- from. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate likeparts in all the figures.

A is the body of a j ar, assumed to be of stone- Ware. A is the neck, and a is a groove or recess extending uniformly around the neck. B b, &c isthe cover, and G O is a semi-ring and strap formed in one piece, which serves as the means for confining the cover.

The cover is made to fit tightly upon the upper edge of the can or upon a surface near that level by means of a Washer of rubber or by other approved means not represented. The cover is adapted to enter slightly into the mouth of the jar to guide it and prevent its moving laterally. Two semicircular inclined ridges or semi-spiralsare formed on its upper face, as indicated by D W.

The holding-piece O 0 may be of malleable cast-iron japanned. The part 0 is half of a cylindrical ring. tending from one end of the ring upward and outward, thence horizontally across the top of the cover, and downward and inward to join the other end of the ring 0.

The holding-piece G G is made to tighten The part 0 is a strap eX-- ring will traverse around in either directionwithout leaving the groove, provided the strain is applied at the forwardend so as to hold it firmly in the groove as it turns.

To operate my invention the can is filled and the cover is applied in the ordinary manner. The holding-piece is then taken in the fingers and applied in the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, in which position it can be dropped into its place. parts the cross-piece G rests on the beginning or lowest portions of the semi-spirals 1) b Now, by applying and maintaining a sufficient force at the point indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4, the confiningpiece O 0 will be turned around, the semi-ring O sliding around in the groove a, and the cross-piece O traversing up on the semi-spirals 1) b This motion proceeds until the cross-piece U presses with sufficient force upon the semi-spirals, so as to hold the cover tightly down. The can may now be left for an indefinite period, or may be transported, and no extraordinary care is necessary to avoid the displacement of the parts.

There being no strain on the center of the cover B, that portion of the cover may be made quite thin, and the entire cover may be made of glass, so as to allow the contents of the can to be plainly visible and so that their condition may be easily inspected.

To open the can it is easy to turn the con fining-piece (J 0, either by hand or by any suitable wrench, and, on turning it back so that the cross-piece O rests on the lowest part-s of the spirals 1) b it will become loose and may be easily removed in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

A screw or other fastening may be introduced through my confining-piece, if desired, in order either to more firmly secure the confining-piece in its proper position upon the can or to increase the pressure upon the cover 5 but I have not found such to be necessary in my.

experiments. p

The body and cover of my can may be both made of stoneware or of any approved material, or the body maybe made ol'any one material and the cover of another.

In this position of the The semi-spirals b b instead of having their highest elevation at one end of the spiral, may be highest at their centers and slant down both ways therefrom. This form will allow the cover to be pressed down by turning the part 0 O in either direction at pleasure.

If deemed necessary to prevent the part 0 from slipping and the cover from being thus accidently loosened, the upper surfaces of the semi-spirals may be slightly notched or waved for receiving the part 0, as indicated in red outline, somewhat exaggerated, in Fig. 3.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. The semi-ring G and cross-strap C, arranged to operate relatively to the body and cover of a self-sealing can or jar, substantially as herein specified.

2. The partial spirals 1) b arranged opposite to each other on the cover, in combination witha securing-piece, G G, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

J OSEE JOHNSON.

Witnesses D. W. STE'rsoN, D. L. FREEBORN. 

